Pepperdine Bible Lectures 2018

I love running with my neighbors in Track Town USA. Five marathons later, you could say I’ve been assimilated into the “runners religion.” ⁣Every race comes with the anticipation for the next mile marker, the next aid station, the next smile, the next “you got this,” and the next familiar friend cheering you on. ⁣It’s painful to push through cramps and sore muscles. It takes dedication to place one foot in front of the other for another mile. You can’t pretend in a marathon. It exacts a toll. ⁣Perhaps, like me, you’ve hit a wall. It’s mile 14, and you’re collapsing, or muscles are seizing up, and you just hope to finish.⁣ I only finished #2 & #3 because I chose to lay down and do some stretches mid-race and because my wife was there to cheer me on when I was ready to give up. ⁣True humility is gained from the curbs of life when our pride and independence fail us. Life and leadership involves pushing through more than 26.2 miles - remember, just like the old Nike slogan goes: there is no finish line.⁣ Tea

Have you ever felt like life has left you feeling like you can’t catch a break? You keep experiencing loss after loss, whether it is from losing loved ones or experiencing disappointments that you are having a hard time shaking, If this sounds familiar I want you to know that you are not alone. There is some hope and good news, scripture shows us that through all of our hurts, God still pursues us, he still finds ways to let us know that we have purpose and that when we allow ourselves to see him in the struggle that there is also room for joy in our lament. Teacher: Ghavinn Crutcher

Churches of Christ and the Restoration Movement generally have had a nip/tuck relationship with the Trinity historically. This class will affirm the orthodox trinitarian assumptions within churches of Christ. Then work will be done to situate the gospel within a trinitarian framework with special attention given to Hebrews 9.14. Teacher: Nick Perez

Everyone needs a cheering section. Who are the people in your life that have made an indelible imprint on your heart? Friends, teachers, coaches, camp counselors, and teammates. A nosy neighbor or a devoted grandmother. Through prayers, tears, and cheers,their faith kindled yours. What can you learn from the "Heroes of Faith" and how can you live like one? Teacher: Jeff Brooks

One part of the gospel message that often flies under the radar is the topic of inheritance. In this class we will snoop around that topic a bit, looking at the history behind expressions like "inherit eternal life," "children of Abraham," "heirs of the promise," "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ," and others that inform how we understand our identity as Christians. Teacher: Tim Willis

In this class we will explore the nuances of the cross-generational, multi-generational, and intergenerational church classifications. We will seek to establish the framework for a theology of intergeneration as well as explore what many church congregations need to consider for their long term survival. Teacher: Stacy Jones

Join us to explore 7 crucial principles for anyone wishing to lead congregational discipleship. The workshop will be split between leadership principles and basic discipleship principles. These principles will give you a solid handle on how to lead a discipleship ministry for your church. For example, learn the Irrigation Principle, the Jazz Principle, and the Vanguard Principle. All of these will help your discipleship ministry bear Kingdom fruit! Teacher: Tod Vogt

Teacher: Jerry Rushford

Part One of this class explores the historical setting and context for the leadership characteristics listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. We will consider the lives of early Christians in their ancient societies as well as their communal life together in order to better understand the kinds of virtues that emerge as essential for leaders in the community. Teacher: John Boyles

How do you keep running when you are dry, parched and tired? There are lessons in the desert we will never learn while running in the park. Come take a lap with Israel to find hope among miracles, mistakes and mourning. Teacher: Jeff Walling

Religion should come with a warning: promise and peril lie ahead! Some of the most beautiful stories in global history emerge from deep religious traditions. We also know the past and current horror of weaponized faith. The genius and passion of any movement remain vulnerable as faith is passed from one generation to the next, and Churches of Christ are no exception. In this session we will explore the promise, peril, genius, and passion of the American Restoration Movement and the Churches of Christ. Teacher: Don McLaughlin

How do you preach sermons that are authentic, biblical, and culturally sensitive? Drawing from Lee’s book, Preaching God’s Grand Drama, this session explores practices of attentiveness that ground sermons in biblical theology, local context, and global realities. Teachers: Sara Barton, Ahmi Lee

In this one-hour class, Jason Locke will help participants imagine new ways of doing church in our changing world. While most churches clearly need traditional forms of gathering for worship, along with traditional forms of administration and pastoral leadership, how can churches actually make Christianity relevant to people who will never walk in the doors of a church building? How might we create new forms of Christian community and lead innovative teams to reach non-church-goers with the good news of Jesus? This session will look at concrete ideas for how to break out of existing frameworks. Teacher: Jason Locke

Two cultural currents in America are colliding: an epidemic of loneliness and highly refined, psychologically attuned algorithms designed to keep our attention through dopamine manipulation for hours. The solution may come from an unexpected place- the willful intent to become bored. Join us as we explore boredom as the means of freedom from the tyranny of slavery to screens. Teacher: Shane Hughes

You will recognize the characters in these six stories; you will smile, laugh, and feel some of the grief along the way. And you will get glimpses into the varied texture of our lives—the unexpected people who bless us, the desert experiences, the need for forgiveness, the gifts along the way, the surprises of grace. Teachers: Leonard Allen, Darryl Tippens

We are often told our bodies are a problem to solve or a hindrance to overcome, but there is another story. A better story. This story is one in which humans are invited to embrace our whole selves—including our minds, hearts, souls, and bodies—as created good and in God’s own image. Together, we will look at the Bible and theology to embrace a more holistic and embodied spiritual life shaped by the story of God from Genesis through the life of Christ. Teacher: Katelyn Brackney

This class includes a hybrid of teaching and panel discussion exploring the virtue of sharing Christ with our neighbors. Teacher: Neil Reynolds Panelists: Bruce Bates, Graham Clifford, Bri Clifford, Scott Lambert, and Doug Peters

Crafting a robust biblical youth ministry can often leave our students feeling like the stories we share are detached, useless, or not all that relevant to their current lives. In this class, we will explore 4 themes from stories in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures that can reorient our students to a deeper and more beautiful faith that draws them to better love God, love others, and love themselves. Teacher: Joel Foster

In the fourteenth century, the woman known as Julian of Norwich received a series of sixteen visions which she recorded in the book, Revelations of Divine Love. Twenty years after this mystical experience, Julian wrote an expanded version of her revelations that included her meditations on the visions in the years after they occurred. In this class, we will take a brief look at Julian's theology based on her writings and consider whether it has any relevance for today. Teacher: Candace Nicolds

We all know the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, etc. But who are the people who “were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection” (Heb 11:35)? Come learn about the martyrs of 2 Maccabees 6-7 and other “forgotten scriptures” that inspired early Christians to persevere in their faith. Teacher: Nick Zola